Locomotive



Feb. 5, 1935. v R. w. ANDERSON 1,990,315

' I LOCOMOTIVE Filed Sept. 15, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Event-07 Feb. 5, 1935. R. w. ANDERSON Patented Feb. 5, 1935 UNITED STATEsrAI TOF i 1,990,315" roooMo'r vr. Italiah-iW. Anderson, wauwatosa Wis. V I Application S eptember 13, i933, SerialNo. 689,182

" 10 Claims. (c1, 1109-122),

The invention relates to improvements inlocomotives, and particularlyto the smoke-box and spark arrester thereof. I I I I I I.

The prevention of fires due totheescape from locomotives of hot sparkshas been a seriousprob lem. One safeguard in common use is a heavy wire screen across the smoke-box for preventing the escape of sparks, or so reducing them in size that they lose their dangerous character before coming in contact with any inflammable material. This expedient has been quite inefficient and unsatisfactory. I II I I I The objects of the present invention'are to insure thedeadening of the sparks before their escape from the smoke stackv by prolonging their passage through the smoke-box and so reducing their size by attrition that they. will readily cool as'they escape from the locomotive. I I

A further object is to insure the discharge of substantially all of the sparks or cinders'from the smoke-box, thereby avoiding the necessity of-frequentcleaning of the smokebox. I I

While the invention may be variously embodied, a form of construction is hereinafter described, and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which has proved to be highly 'efficient. g

In the drawings: f I I I Fig. 1 is a detail longitudinal-vertical section through the front end of a'locomotive equipped with the improved spark arrester; I

I. Fig. 2 is a sectional view-on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical section through the spark arrester and portions '-'of the locomotive;

and p h I Fig. 4 is a-sectional view on'the broken line 4-4 of'Fig.3. j

The invention is shown as applied to a locomotive alreadyin service. The front endring of the locomotive is shown at 10; 'itssmoke stack at 11; its front flue sheet at 12; superheater pipes 13 leading to a header; a portion' of a steam pipe leading to the engine cylinders at 14; and the exhaust nozzle leading from the cylinders at 15.

The spark arrester proper comprises, a pair of casings 16, 17 the former inclosing the latter and being; of substantially greater diameter." Both casings may be formed of sheet. metal, and each takes the form of a pair of truncated cones with their bases adjacent.- 1

The two sections 18, 19, of the outer casing abut, while thetwo' sections 20, 21, of .the inner casing 17 are spaced apart. The outer casing 16 is ,openat its top and bottom... Thelinner'casing 17 is closed to the smoke-box at the topand bottom but is laterallyiopen'l r 1 1 The lower end of the section 21 of the inner casing 17 rests upon and is 'securedto thetable plate 22 of the smoke-box of the locomotive'and incloses the exhaust "nozzle 15. The upper section? 20" of the inner casing surrounds the petticoat 23 of the smoke stack 11 and fits snugly thereupon. .The outer casing 16 is spacedfrom the table plate of the smoke-box and is supportedby 1egs'24 bolted thereto.

A series of vertical bafile and deflecting. plates 25, annularly disposed between the upper and lower sections 20, 21, of the casing 17, arewelded to both of these sections and, at their upper'and inner corners, to a ring 26. 'Each of these plates 25 extends inwardly from the outer margin of the inner casing and is set in. a plane slightly oblique to-the radiusthereofipassing through its outer margin. g I

One face 2'7 of each of these platesis roughened, and the plates are so set that material en! tering the inner casing 17 obliquely in one general direction will be deflected toward the center of the casing and into the column ofexhaust steam issuing from the'nozzle 15.

Two sets 28, 29, of spirally disposed guide vanes are located between the outer and inner I casings, the one set 28 occupying the upper half of the arrester and the other, 29,..the lower half. All of these jvanes extend fromia margin, either top or ;bottom,'of the arrester vand in the same circumferential direction. 1

The front wall 30 of thefismoke-box .is preferably: located but a short distance in advance of the spark arrester, and in new-locomotives may fering conditions, such as a change in the grade of fuel being'used. It therefore becomes-desirable to provide for, the adjustment of the petticoat. As shown, this part of the smoke stack telescopes into the upper fixed section 11, andis supported on arms 32, projecting upwardly from and rigidly attached'to'the upper section 20 of theinner casing 17. Brackets 33, attachedrto the petticoat, are bolted to these arms, and the latter are provided with a'longitudinal series of apertures, as

of the baffle plates 25, and is by them guided directlyto theascending column ofexhauststeam. In passing from the flue openings through the sheet 12 to the stack there is, of course, violent agitation, resulting in the reduction of the sparks carried by the smoke both by attrition and impact: These solid particles are violently thrown against;

the rough surfaces of the plates 25, and such of them as areof any broken up.

g The passageof smoke through the box and arrester occupies sufficient time to pe'rmit the sparks to lose considerablepf'theirvheat, and by reason of their finesubdivision their temperature isso low asthey-issue from the stackthat all danger of: the starting of fires is avoided.

. -The rougheningof theplates 25 may be accomplished in any'desired manner. In practice it has been found quite satisfactory to secure it by-attaching, as bywelding, to the face of the plates apiece of rather coarse reticulated screen.

While the form of construction shown and de- I scribed is found to be highly efficient, various changes therein may be made within the scope I of the inventiontas defined in the appended claims. c

I claim as my invention-- a 1; In a'steam locomotive having a smoke-box, a smoke stack leading therefrom and an exhaust nozzle dischargingthereinto, the combination of a spark arrester comprising an inner and an outer casing, the inner casing fitting upon the nozzle and stack and being laterally open adjacent its median zone and open at thebottom tothe nozzle and at the top to the stack, the outer casing being open at the top and bottom, spirally ar-,

ranged vanes interposed between the two-casings and leading from the top and bottom of the outer casing to the lateral openingof the i'nner casing, and an annularly arranged series of vertical bafileplates within the inner casing'and crossing its lateral opening and positioned to deflect material enteringsuch openingtoward the center of the casing. I

, 2. In asteamlocomotive having a furnace boiler and engine, a smoke-boxfa smoke stack leading therefrom and an exhaust nozzle discharging thereinto, the combination therewith of a spark arrester fitting upon the adjacent ends of the stack and nozzle and comprising an outer and inner casing, the outer casing being open at top and bottom, the inner casing being laterally open adjacent its median zone, spirally arranged vanes interposed between the two casings and leading fromthe top and bottom of the outer casing to the lateral opening in the inner casing,

and an annularly arranged series of vertical ballle plates within the inner casing and crossing its lateral opening and positioned to deflect material entering such opening toward the axis of the casing, 'the deflecting faces of such platesbeing roughened. c i

3. 1A spark arrester comprising a pair of concentrically related casings for inclosing the lower end of the smoke stack and the exhaust nozzle of a locomotive, the outer casing being open at substantial size are thereby the top and bottom and the inner casing open circumferentially only, means for guiding mate-' rial entering the outer casing to the opening of the inner casing, and means within the latter for directing toward its axis material entering its opening.

4. A spark arrester comprising a pair of concentrically related casingsgfor inclosing the lower end of the smoke stack of alocomotive and the I exhaust nozzle thereof, both casings having the form of ajpair of; truncatedcones having their bases adjacent, the outer casing being open at itsends only and the inner one being open circumferentially only, means for guiding material entering the outer casing to the opening of the inner-casing; andmeans within the latter for directing towardits axis material entering its open- 5. Aspark arresterfor locomotives having a vertical smoke stack and an exhaust nozzle discharging thereinto, such arrester comprising a pair: Qf-oasings, one, within the. other, and'em closing the nozzle and the Iowerend of. the stack, the inner casing being closed at the top and bettom, and laterally open and the outer casing being open at the top. vandbottom, spirally arranged vanes between the two casingsand leading to; the

lateral opening; and an annular seriesof vertical baflle plates within the inner casing for deflecting entering material tothe center'thereof.

6. In a locomotive, in combination, a smoke,-

box having a table plate, a. vertical smoke stack,

an exhaust nozzledischarging into thestack, a

spark arrester comprising, a laterally open casing secured to the table plate and inclosing the nozzle and the lower. end of the stack,,such stack-end being adjustably carried by the :-casing,gand

means for directing products of. combustion the lateral opening of the casing; v1'7. In a locomotive having "asmoke-cboxz an exhaust nozzle discharging thereintoand a smoke stack leading therefrom the combination with such elementsfof a spark arrester comprising a casing in the form of aninverted truncated, cone into rising from and enclosing the: nozzle and discharginginto the'stack,.an outer casing open at the bottom and being of like form and'concentric with the first-nameducasing and communicating 'withthe chamber thereofatj the upper end of the latter, spirally disposed :vanes between the "two casings and meansforrarresting the ascent of currents between thecasings at the level'of v such means of communication. a c a 8. In a locomotive having a smoke-box; anexhaust nozzle discharging thereinto and a smoke stack leading therefrom, the combination with such elements of a spark arrester comprising a casing in the form. of aninverted truncated cone from and enclosing the nozzle and discharginginto the stack, an'outercasin'g open at the bottom and being oflike form and concentric with the first-named casing and extending above the latter, spirally disposed vanes between the two casings, an annular series of baflle plates leading upwardly from theinner casingand posi- Y tioned to guide currents entering between them toward the axis of such casing and means for arresting the ascent ofcurrents entering between the casing approximately atthe top of the outer casing. l a i Y 9. In a locomotive having a smoke-box, an ex"- haust nozzle discharging thereinto and a smoke stack leading therefrom, the combination with such elements of a spark arrester comprising a casing in the form of an inverted truncated" cone with' and open to the nozzle and comprising a;

rising from and enclosing the nozzle and discharging into the stack, an outer casing open at the bottom and being of like form and concentric with the first-named casing andextending above the latter, spirally disposed vanes between the two casings, an annular series of baflie plates lead.- in upwardly from the inner casing and positioned to guide currents entering between them toward the axis of such casing, the guiding faces of the plates being roughened and means for arresting the ascent of currents entering between the easings approximately at the top of the outer casing.

10. In a locomotive having a smoke-box, a

smoke stack leading therefrom and an exhaust nozzle discharging thereinto, the combination with such elements of a spark arrester in line pair of concentric casing elements each in the form of a truncated cone, the inner elementsnu 1y inclosing the stack and the outer element being open at the top and extending below the inner element, a series of spirally disposed vanes between the two casing elements and extending below the inner one, means for an'esting'cur rents descending between the vanes, an annular series of vertical baffle plates within and extending below the inner casing element and positioned to guide currents entering between them toward the axis of such element, the guiding faces of the plates being roughened.

RALPH W. ANDERSON. 

